Sound, Phrase & Fury 4.5 - Special Throwback Issue
Sound, Phrase & Fury Volume 4, Issue 5.
This will be the last issue of our fourth year and the last issue of SPF as you have grown to know it! We've been working on some HUGE changes for 2017, and we wanted to take this time to look back at the amazing artists we have met over the years!
Please enjoy our Special Throwback Issue - We highlight our favourite interviews including Bobby Meader, Nic Dyson & Callaghan! Also features our artist picks: Cory Wells Music, Hope Sacree Music, Life Lessons & SOPHIE STRAUSS!
Sometimes in the darkest days you find the brightest light. Winnipeg’s alt-rock quintet, Fake Talk, truthfully encapsulates this message in their new song, “Swallow.”
Written during one of the toughest times of band member Nic Herzog’s life, the song explores the determination despite his despair, and the shining beacon of hope he had in his life.
NH: The song was basically written as a creative outlet during a period of crisis in my own life. I've lived with bi-polar disorder (manic depression) since childhood. Last spring I suffered the worst manic episode I can recall. I ended up severing a number of relationships that night and spent 24 hours in psychiatric care. My wife spent the entire night with me on a cold plastic slab in the middle of an empty white room. It turned out that I had been prescribed improper medication, which had thrown my chemistry completely out of balance, causing me to lose control entirely.
“It was my life and I needed to become proactive about my health instead of being a slave to my illness.”
During the following week of quiet contemplation and reflection spent laying in my bed in the dark, I acknowledged that although it seemed that my mental health was regressing rapidly, that it was my life and I needed to become proactive about my health instead of being a slave to my illness. And during that time of desperation, humility and grief, I thought about my wife in order to focus on the positivity in my life. I wrote this song during that week.
Since then, I've found a plethora of resources through the Canadian Mental Health Association which have not only helped me to recover, but to live a fuller and more positive life than I ever had. Every day brings its share of challenges, but every day I'm getting better.
I wanted this project to be somewhat of a beacon to anybody who deals with mental illness, and give hope to those as desperate as I was.
Check out the music video for “Swallow” below. Digital downloads are available through Bandcamp – with all proceeds donated to Inspire Community Outreach Inc. - a Winnipeg non-profit organization that provides youth and their families resources to help cope with mental health and mood disorders.
Fake Talk - "Swallow" from TOF MEDIA on Vimeo.
Filmed by Evan Plett. Additional footage by Nic Herzog. Directed & edited by Nic Herzog
Sound, Phrase & Fury Volume 4, Issue 3 - Featuring an interview with indie-folk artist, J. Alan Schneider and our artist picks for Sept/Oct: SYKES, Lord Franklin, Boston Manor & Plans.
2016 has already been an epic year for music. Independent artists all over the world have found it easier than ever to share and distribute their work online. Music streaming services have become numerous and more comprehensive than ever, and listeners worldwide have been able to access more music thanks to programs that bypass geo-blocking restrictions.
Plus, the last 7 months have been witness so some incredible new sounds; these five albums are some of the true highlights of this year’s musical calendar. They’re all available on Amazon, but it's worth using a VPN if you're buying straight onto your phone or tablet, to protect your credit card deets! Check out this Secure Thoughts review for more details.
1. Plants and Animals – Waltzed In From The Rumbling
In terms of production quality, this is a treat for your ears. The expertise gone into the recording and mix-down creates a wonderfully clear listening experience. Close your eyes, and you could be standing mid-field in a festival listening to them live. Alongside this, the abstract strum of guitars and droning lyrics are reminiscent of Neil Young or Radiohead.
For fans that are already aware of their music, this album is a shot in the dark compared to their prior releases. The classic folk-rock style has transformed into something seemingly more experimental. It might be their signature sound anymore, but we certainly love the transformation.
Get it here!
2. Mitski – Puberty 2
Another “fourth album” to make the list, this new release from Mitski has cemented her place as one of the most enchanting sounds in the genre. The seemingly simple drums and folky guitar riffs provide wonderful backdrops for the rich, silky tones and raw lyrics.
For those who like their indie with a bit of soul, this is the album for you. It’s powerful. Inspired by living with anxiety and depressing, Puberty 2 is a recount of the constant struggle for inner happiness, and the haunting vocals communicate this brilliantly. This album has seen Mitski refining her style, and here’s hoping it doesn’t change anytime soon!
Get it here!
3. Steve Mason – Meet The Humans
This classic indie masterpiece is a truly unique concoction of fantastic music. Infectious beats, dynamic songs and poetic lyrics create the perfect mix of upbeat melodies and melancholy vocals that will have you singing along in no time. It’s no denying that Steve Mason is a master of this craft and the foot-tapping, head-bobbing anthems that make up “Meet The Humans” are definitely one of the brightest jewels in his crown.
However, Mason’s fans will know that his musical journey has not been an easy one. Playing front man for four different bands, he has seen his fair share of record company withdrawals, self-doubt and struggles with depression. Still, out of darkness has come light, and this album marks one of the greatest triumphs oh his musical career.
Get it here!
4. Shear Water – Jet Plane & Oxbow
Harking back to the new wave movement of the 1970s/80s, the spatters of synths and deep vocals of Shear Waters new album have an almost Human League quality about them. However, skillfully modernizing the genre, songwriter Jonathan Meiburg has created a whole new and unique sound. This is only the second full-length album from the band, so it’s going to be exciting to see where they go from here.
Not only a talented musician but a poet in his own right, Meiburg has used the album as an opportunity for a social commentary of America and a stark reflection of the ludicrous political landscape instead of rational and intelligent thought. In my opinion, it’s truly a stroke of genius and well worth a place on any “albums of the year” list.
Get it here!
5. Frightened Rabbit – Painting of A Panic Attack
Not for the first time, the sound of Emo music has joined forces with Indie in “Painting of A Panic Attack,” and this Frightened Rabbit album stands as an example of what happens when it is done right. The self-hating lyrics seem to hide a beautiful soul and, alongside the band's emotive sound, creates a raw, passionate and exciting end product. Crashing symbols, banging drums and wailing vocals—the combination is spot-on.
While the album is a move away from the bands earlier, rawer sound, with haunting pianos and denser accompaniments, it is a winning combination. And with dark, harrowing and often-morbid poetry tumbling from the lips of the bands front-man, the whole project is knitted together perfectly.
Get it here!
Do you know any other albums that deserve to be on this list? Drop us a comment with you ideas.
About the Author: Isa is an entertainment and technology blogger and a true indie kid at heart. She loves scouring the net for unmissable albums and underrated artists and sharing her top finds with fellow music lovers.
Our summer Issue is out! Featuring an Industry profile on Rock It Out! Summer Band Camp and our list of the Top Ten Must-See Summer Music Festivals of Manitoba. Also featuring our artist picks for July/August - A Story Told, Begonia, Owl Kill & Elessar Thiessen! Happy Reading!
Does your punk rock playlist need a refresher? Well Beat Noir has got you covered. The Kitchener, ON band has just released their new album, Sovereignties, and we’ve got the full album stream.
The 11-track album boasts a solid mix of classic emo-punk vibes, modern alt-rock and even upbeat elements of the UK’s early indie-rock scene. Sovereignties gives listeners a tinge of deep dark emotional nostalgia with a slight pang of cheer - think Brand New’s The Devil and God... thrown in a musical mixer with everything from Balance and Composure and early works of Hot Hot Heat.
You can snag a digital download on Bandcamp as of today. To give you more hits of sweet nostalgia, the album will also be available on cassette and vinyl in the near future.
Like Beat Noir on Facebook. Follow them on Tumblr, and Twitter @FuckYeahTimmy & @MarkBeatNoir
Calling all hardcore punk lovers. We’re streaming the new EP by Winnipeg’s newest punk group, Stickaround.
Comprised of Peg City music scene veterans from Kids and Heroes & Seal The Deal, the quartet is out to inject the city with their brand of infectious angst-fueled punk.
The self-titled EP will be available for a two-day free download through Bandcamp starting May 31st. After that, you can grab a copy on iTunes on June 3rd.
Catch the boys’ stage debut at DEADBEATS VIII at the Park Theatre June 3rd, along with fellow punk rock lovelies, Elder Abuse, Triggers & Broadview.
We're back with Sound, Phrase & Fury 4.2 - Featuring an industry profile on Ones & Zeros Audio and our picks for this summer's biggest releases - including A Place In Time, Jane Decker, Yes We Mystic, The Stolen, Cup Check & Small Parks.
Ring in Spring with Broadview’s live performance of “All I Need.”
We’ve got the exclusive stream of the energetic pop-rock trio’s new live session of “All I Need” The song is off their latest album, Close Your Eyes, which came out on February 19th.
Check out the video below. Shot and edited by Nic Herzog of TWOOHFOUR Design at the Close Your Eyes Album Release Show on March 11.
Broadview hits the road this summer, so stay tuned for tour announcements in May.
Broadview - "All I Need" (LIVE SESSIONS) from TOF MEDIA on Vimeo.
The independent music scene is about to get a new dose of premiere electro-pop with Winnipeg’s Halcyon.
Their debut single, “Stay” comes out February 1st along with the official launch of their website, HalcyonMB.com. With Radiohead and Tycho as notable band influences, the boys also channel the haunting disposition of The Smiths for their dreamy debut. With lovelorn lines layered between ethereal guitars and spacey vibes, “Stay” gives a tease of the band’s ability to evoke emotion and lull you into a sweet, relaxing daze.
What was born from some playful experimentation has grown into one of the newest must-hear bands for any fan of ghostly, dream-pop – prepare to fall head-over-heels for Halcyon.
Snag a copy of “Stay” on February 1st, 2016 at HalcyonMB.com. Winnipeggers can catch Halcyon live at The Handsome Daughter on March 25, 2016 with P.O.U.T, Urban Vacation and Lev Snowe.
Happy New Year! We've got Sound, Phrase & Fury 4.1 - our new music issue featuring an interview with Winnipeg's Halcyon. Check out our Siblings Special and our picks for Artists to Watch in 2016. It's our biggest list yet - featuring Youth Decay, Broadview, Hey Thanks, Alone I Walk,Valley Girl, W. Darling, Lost Sons and League MVP!
JA: You guys have been together since 2012. Can you go through some of the growth and changes you’ve experienced since your start?
ZH: One of the biggest moments for us was when we got some decent press out in Germany for our Dolores EP. A website called BorderlineFuckUp.com really got into the Dolores EP. They said it was their favourite record that came out in 2013. We made it in their Top Record list so that was a big thing for us. This summer we opened for Meat Wave. That was one of the coolest moments.
It’s kind of tough to keep real steady progression because we only really get four months together at a time. With me living out in Edmonton and the other two back in Winnipeg, we don’t really have time to tour, or play a ton of shows. Whenever we’re together we write as much as we can and play as much as we can. We’re hoping with this new record, it’ll have some legs to it. We’re excited for these seven songs that we put together.
JA: How did the writing process work?
ZH: I come up with a skeleton for the song and then I bring it to Sebastian [Cox]. With the help of his drums we get the full structure together then Bernard [Cox] comes in and writes his own baseline. Fortunately, I ended up getting to spend a whole summer break at home, from May to mid-August. I had been working on a few riffs over the school year and because I’ve been playing with these guys for so long, they picked it up pretty quick. We also wrote some stuff on the spot at a jam. We spent three-and-half months together and we were able to put seven songs together, which is pretty cool. We like that pace.
It definitely makes us focus because we can’t say, “oh we have time, we can get to this later.” It’s, “we have three and half months to do whatever we can.” We’re always on a tight schedule, so we jam a ton and practice a ton so it definitely keeps you focused.
JA: You worked with Jordan Voth (Ones and Zeros) again.
ZH: Jordan’s been good. This is going on the 4th time we’ve gone back to him. Especially given the compressed timeline, it’s nice to work with someone that already knows you and the band, so you don’t have to go through that awkward getting to know you period. It’s nice that he knows what we like. He knows what we don’t like. I feel like he’s done a better job with us each time. We’ve gotten to understand each other better and it really came together with his help.
JA: Was there anything really different this time around?
ZH: The biggest thing is, sonically, the songs are cleaner and more melodic. There’s less gravelly punk. I lived with four other people out in Edmonton so I couldn’t really crank the amp, couldn’t scream along to it or anything so the songs were written in a basement pretty quietly in the middle of night; trying not to disturb anyone. So it definitely has a more a melodic 90’s emo-vibe. The biggest difference would be toning down the distortion and adding more melodic cleaner guitars and cleaner vocals. It’s a bit of a departure from some of our earlier stuff but it was fun.
JA: So tell me about “Purgatory For Dogs.”
ZH: It was definitely a reactionary song. I was trying to stay away from the strict Menzingers -influence we’ve done in the past. We wanted to do something more technical. Part of that came from me not wanting to sing anymore. I haven’t been singing at all since I’ve been out in Edmonton and I wanted to do something that was difficult on guitar that would then make it tough for me to sing. We were then going to have our old bass player come back and have him start singing but unfortunately, he moved to Thompson. It ended up being me having to figure out how to sing it while playing. I think it came together.
Lyrically, it’s about dealing with a relationship that had really started to be buried, and talking to another person and trying to come to terms with it and getting the usual stock “karma will work everything out,” “everything works out in the end,” the nice clichés, and the dissatisfaction with that. It’s the struggle with the belief that not everything works out. There really is no certainty. You can’t really put any faith in any karmic solution, so you just have to struggle through the chaos your life may be. It’s also trying to convince yourself that the world is chaotic and there’s no purpose, so try to live your life through that mindset but also still try to instil some purpose to your life. Thinking, “well maybe people like me exist - pessimistic and melancholy all the time- because it allows balance. It allows for joyful people. So maybe the world needs people like me.”
The majority of our songs have a negative outlook to them, but I’m always looking for different ways to put a spin on that. I’ve always enjoyed negative art more than positive celebrations of things. It’s all about the struggle to find meaning.
JA: Any other comments about the Boys’ Club Lives Forever
ZH: We got Nick Fondse from Sit Calm. He sang a couple of lines which was really cool. He’s a great friend of ours and that’s a band that everyone should definitely check out. Jordan sings couple of things on it. Jenna from Mobina Galore actually sings a couple spots, which sounds unreal. She made a lot of stuff sound a lot cooler than it would have without her. So even if you hate us, there’s a bunch of other really cool people who did a few things for us.
Follow Boys' CLub on twitter. Like them on Facebook and grab a copy of Boys’ Club Lives Forever on Bandcamp
Snag a preview of the new EP with “Purgatory For Dogs.”
As a small independent magazine, we are run on our sweat, tears and undying passion for what we do. In order to keep doing that, we rely on (and greatly appreciate) the continued love, support and spontaneous word-of-mouth promotion we get from our readers, writers and fans.
Since Sound, Phrase & Fury began we have seen, heard and met an amazing bunch of our supporters. Because of you, we have been able to see this project grow far beyond our most hopeful dreams. It has undoubtedly thrown fuel on this beautiful fire, and we are amped and ready for more!
With the new Sound, Phrase & Fury Street Team we hope to:
work with our immediate/online community to help promote talented independent artists from all over the world
continue to build and interact with our fellow music lovers
help spark ideas/dialogue about the independent industry
Who Can Join?
We are looking for friendly, outgoing, and enthusiastic music lovers and SPF supporters to help promote Sound, Phrase & Fury Magazine at various music events during the summer/fall 2015 season.
We’re looking for people who:
Are current readers/supporters of SPF Magazine
Are knowledgeable about SPF and its philosophy (more information will be given upon acceptance into the team)
Live on planet Earth (we’re happy to have street teamers from anywhere in the world)
Willing to attend various music events and represent SPF
Examples of duties:
Assist with giveaways: Stickers, posters, fliers etc.
Promote new online issues/articles through social media
Provide live-tweets at various events
Interact with, attract and inform potential new readers
The SPF Street Team is a moderated team, and as such SPF Magazine reserves the right to decline any prospective street team member that does not meet our requirements or to remove any member that does not actively maintain their duties.
Alone I Walk - “Butterfly” Exclusive Stream & Lost at Sea Contest
Alone I Walk loves to breathe positivity and perk into everything he does. With his upcoming debut album,Lost at Sea, (out June 6, 2015) singer-songwriter, Franky Courcelles, takes a different look at finding happiness – by fighting through the dark.
Get a taste with his new song, “Butterfly” off Lost at Sea. Pre-orders are now available through iTunes. Album comes out June 6, 2015.
Lost at Sea Contest
As human beings we often find ourselves lost – lost in the flurry of school and work, lost in a moment, or even lost in life. Music fans all over know this feeling very well, but also know the feeling of finding their way through the work of their favourite artists. To celebrate Alone I Walk’s debut album we’re running the Lost at Sea Contest.
Tell us how music has helped you find your way, and you could win a physical copy of Lost at Sea, Alone I Walk merch and a personalized note from Franky Courcelles. Send us your stories by posting/commenting on SPF.com or Facebook. Use #LostAtSea on Instagram or send us an e-mail at [email protected]. Contest runs May 18, to May 29th! The winner will be handpicked by Franky Courcelles.
Micah Visser caught the musical bug at the age of 7 picking up everything from the violin, to drums and guitar. Now, the young multi-instrumentalist has grown to become one of Winnipeg’s best alt-folk outfits.
His new record, OK Night boasts a moody, dreamy atmosphere. Pulling influences from Elliott Smith and even Taylor Swift, Visser molds upbeat melodies and melancholy musings to create a beautifully constructed capsule of emotion & youthful ambiance.
Visser sat down with us to talk transitions, personal growth and the making of OK Night.
Get a first taste of OK Night with the new single, “sad mammal documentaries.”
Pre-orders of OK Night are available on Bandcamp. The album drops April 23, 2015 at The Park Theatre.
JA: Tell me a bit about your shows?
MV: I started playing a lot of shows probably about a year ago. That’s when I started taking [my music] seriously and booking shows around Winnipeg, with just me and my guitar. I got sick of that pretty fast.
I like playing for people but because my songs were already really personal and intimate, I felt pretty uncomfortable playing them that closely to people when it was just me and I’m the focus. I really don’t like that, so I recorded this album in full-band format, and have played shows in that format. That’s going a lot better.
JA: Can we talk about your influences? You have a lot of indie-pop elements in your music.
MV: When I was growing as a songwriter I listened to a lot of Elliott Smith. When I was writing this album I was listening to a lot of Sharon Van Etten, who has a really cool alt-folk vibe. That’s one of my big influences and I am pretty heavily influenced by pop music. I try not to get too pop sometimes but I definitely have that tendency to move towards those simple melodic hooks. But I try to have a little more depth in there.
JA: What guilty pleasure pop stars are you listening to right now?
MV:Taylor Swift (laughs).
JA: Oh of course, everyone is!
MV: Yeah, exactly. The new album has got some Taylor Swift influences in there.
JA: Take me through making the album. I heard it started out as an EP and then expanded.
MV: A year ago I released my EP, The Moon In a Jar. Pretty soon after it was released I wasn’t happy with it. I felt like I was writing songs that were a lot better and that [EP] just wasn’t an accurate representation of me at all. I wanted to record a couple of songs to get them out and get people listening to them. I started writing a lot of music and I wanted to expand on the thoughts and atmosphere of the record. I felt like that was the direction it was going. I also didn’t want to make the mistake I did with my last album when I rushed it out before I could really give the ideas a good chance to grow. I wanted this one to really say what I wanted to say with it. The atmosphere and the emotions in the album are very self-contained and I feel it’s a good representation of me and my life at that time.
JA: Let’s talk about the OK Night cassettes. I love the nostalgia behind it.
MV:I did physical copies with my last EP so I didn’t want to do CDs again. I found nobody uses them anymore. It’s all novelty now. It’s either vinyl or cassettes, and for vinyl there are huge wait lists and it’s really expensive. Cassettes are something tangible that people can get if they want to support, and hopefully add to their collection.
JA: And they come with hand-typed lyrics?
MV: If people pre-order them. A lot of the stuff I did, I wrote on a typewriter. Part of my creative process is writing drafts of lyrics like that. I like being able to see it right away on a page, so I thought that would be a nice thing to give with the record.
JA: Anything else you’d like to say about OK Night?
MV: I hope people connect with it. It’s very personal but I also didn’t want it to be self-serving. I wrote a lot of the songs for my friends about things they were struggling with, how I saw that and how I wanted to help them. I want that to come across, that it’s not just something I want to do for myself. It’s really something I want to do for other people.
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Pre-orders of OK Night are available on Bandcamp. The album drops April 23, 2015 at The Park Theatre.
Family Thief never fails to pull at our heartstrings.
The California-based indie-acoustic outfit just released the music video for his new single, “King Of The Floor.” The title track off his upcoming EP, takes us through the exhilaration and polarizing agony that comes with falling in love.
Check out the video below. Pre-orders of King Of The Floor are available through Big Cartel.
